Loeffler checks off bucket list item in masters race

Kim Loeffler, from Colchester, runs toward the finish line during the People’s United Bank Vermont City Marathon on Sunday. Loeffler won the women’s masters division.(Photo11: BRIAN JENKINS/for the FREE PRESS)

Colchester’s Kim Loeffler was a professional triathlete for a dozen years, earning a pair of national titles in the Ironman, where competitors swim 2.4 miles, get on the bike for 112 miles and then complete the multi-sport odyssey with a 26.2-mile marathon run

But make no mistake, the sweltering heat at Sunday’s 28th annual People’s United Bank Vermont City Marathon was no walk in the park for the 43-year-old.

“You have to respect the conditions and adapt yourself,” Loeffler said. “You are never going to conquer the heat, you just have to make sure it doesn’t conquer you.”

Although she adjusted her goal for an overall time based on the forecast, Loeffler still finished first in the women’s masters division, clipping the line at 3 hours, 3 minutes and 35 seconds.

“It’s great as you get older that you can still get out there and compete,” Loeffler said.

Loeffler logged about 30 triathlon marathons and also finished eighth at the World Ironman championships before retiring to start a family with her husband, with whom she owns On Track in Burlington.

“Running was always my first love, always my passion,” Loeffler said.

Sunday was Loeffler’s first open marathon at VCM. Last year she teamed with neighbor Meg Lout, the 2014 VCM top Vermont woman, to set the course record for the two-person, all-female relay.

“It’s an amazing race, a beautiful course and something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Loeffler, mother of a two-year-old. “But I always had to put my triathlon career first. It was a definitely a race that was on my bucket list.”

Bristol’s Todd Smith was the top masters on the men’s side with a time of 2:44:22.

Former South Burlington High School stars Sean Macdonald, Andy Tuttle, Brandon Moran, James Gregoire and Sidi Abdoulaye made up the team “Sb Pimp My Stride,” which captured the 3-5-person relay division in 2:31:29.

Contact Alex Abrami at 660-1848 or aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/aabrami5